Update (Oct. 1, 2021): A first-grader who refused to take off his mask for school pictures because he didn’t want to break his mom’s rules is now getting funds from people across the country who are rewarding him for being a good son. 

Nicole Peoples said she launched a GoFundMe for her son, Mason, because people had been wanting to send him money for ice cream and gifts, and they even contributed to a college tuition fund. With the outpouring of donations, the family has now raised more than $27,000 for the child’s future college tuition. The initial goal was set at just $7. 

“Mason and I are overjoyed and in awe of the outpouring of love that we have received over his picture day school picture. He has read so many of your comments with the biggest smile on his face! He is so happy to see so many people proud of him and saying he did such a good job!” Peoples wrote on Facebook. “All of you have made my little one’s day!! He is such a good kind hearted, caring, loving, smart, and helpful little boy. Thank you for showing him that his honesty and integrity will make a big difference in this world.”

Original (Sept. 27, 2021): A first-grader named Mason went viral on social media after he hilariously refused to take off his mask for his elementary school pictures, according to NBC 15 WMTV.

His mom, Nicole Peoples, shared the comical anecdote on Facebook next to her son's adorable photo.

"Photographer: 'Ok, take your mask off.' Mason: 'My mom said to keep it on all the time unless I'm eating and far away from everybody,'" Peoples explained. "Photographer: 'I'm sure it's ok to take it off for your pictures.' Mason: 'No, my mom seriously told me to make sure to keep it on.'"

"Photographer: 'Are you sure you don't want to take it off for 2 seconds?' Mason: 'No Thank you, I always listen to my mom!'" she wrote, before joking: "I'm so proud of him for sticking to his word but I should have been more clear about my rules on this day."

Since sharing the story, the mom earned support from people on social media.

"You should be proud! It has to be hard to stand up to an adult but he had the confidence to stand up for what he thought was right. Good job mama!" someone commented under her post. 

Peoples started a GoFundMe for her son's college fund in response to the positive reaction she and her family received on social media. 

"Mason and I are overjoyed and in awe of the outpouring of love that we have received over his picture day school picture. He has read so many of your comments with the biggest smile on his face!" she wrote on the page. "He is so happy to see so many people proud of him and saying he did such a good job! (He is so proud!)"

She went on, sharing that the first-grader is overjoyed with the newfound attention he's gotten. 

"All of you have made my little one’s day!! He is such a good kind hearted, caring, loving, smart, and helpful little boy. Thank you for showing him that his honesty and integrity will make a big difference in this world," she shared. "Many of you have reached out to ask how you can send money for gifts, ice cream, or Mason's college scholarship fund so I have created this GoFundMe account to do just that."